The Ultimate Rodent Quiz

The term rodent conjures up in many of us images of bothersome rats and mice. Squirrels and chipmunks are usually considered to be cute little furry creatures, but they, too, are rodents. Take this quiz and learn more about this diverse family.

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Question 1 of 20

Since rodents breed swiftly, why have they not overrun the Earth?

They are so small you don't really notice how numerous they are.

Pesticides keep the numbers under control.

They are prey for most flesh-eaters.

Rodents are the prey of almost all flesh-eating animals.

Question 2 of 20

Can rodents be beneficial to the fashion world?

Rodents are pests

The fur of certain rodents is prized.

The fur of beavers and muskrats is considered valuable.

Because they are becoming extinct, rodent fur is no longer used.

Question 3 of 20

How many teeth do rodents have?

two upper and two lower

Unlike other mammals, they have only two upper and two lower teeth.

three upper and two lower

four upper and four lower

Question 4 of 20

How would you characterize the rodents as a group?

widely diverse

some are cute

destructive pests

Rodents, as a group, are destructive pests, whether in the home or ruining crops in the fields. They also carry various diseases.

Question 5 of 20

Are all rodents vegetarians?

All are basically vegetarians

Most are, squirrels are an exception.

Almost all are, except for some, like the squirrel, that also eat smaller animals.

All rodents eat flesh if it is available.

Question 6 of 20

Many rodents have cheek pouches. What are they for?

carrying food

The cheek pouches are used for carrying food.

preventing inedible material from entering stomach

storing air when the swim under water

Question 7 of 20

How many species of rodents are there?

1000

1500

more than 2,000

There are more than 2,000 species.

Question 8 of 20

What "dog" is in fact a rodent?

argentine dogo

Alaskan malamute

prairie dog

The prairie dog is not a canine, but a type of large ground squirrel.

Question 9 of 20

What prevents a rodent's incisors from growing too long?

Gnawing sharpens and wears down the incisors.

The gnawing of rodents wears down and sharpens their incisors, keeping them from growing too long.

They stop growing at maturity.

Incisors fall out and grow again.

Question 10 of 20

Which rodents live on nearly every continent?

moles

porcupines

rats and mice

Rats and mice live everywhere except Antarctica.

Question 11 of 20

What rodent is found only in Central and South America?

beavers

capybaras

Capybaras live only in Latin America.

gophers

Question 12 of 20

Where does the Eurasian beaver live?

sub-tropical climates of Africa

Australia and Japan

Asia and Europe

It lives in Europe and Asia.

Question 13 of 20

What is the size of an average beaver family?

three or four

five or six

Beavers often live in families of five or six.

seven or eight

Question 14 of 20

What mouse can leap up to 6 feet (1.8 m)?

kangaroo rat

The jumper is the kangaroo rat, which is in fact a rodent of the pocket mouse family.

deer mouse

grasshopper mouse

Question 15 of 20

Is there any similarity between a prairie dog and a real dog?

They both bark to warn of danger.

The prairie dog wags its tail, barks to warn of danger and their young are called pups.

None - one is a rodent and the other a canine.

Their life spans are identical.

Question 16 of 20

What is a group of prairie dogs called?

herd

pack

town

The group is called a town.

Question 17 of 20

What size can a group of prairie dogs reach?

100

500

The group or town can have more than 500 members.

700

Question 18 of 20

Which rodent is a protected species?

beavers

Laws in the United States limit the times of year beavers can be hunted.

muskrats

squirrels

Question 19 of 20

Who is the deadliest enemy of rodents?

predatory animals

birds of prey

humans

Although they are the natural prey of most other animals bigger than they are, man is the rodents' biggest enemy. Farmers kill rodents that damage their crops, hunters kill beavers and householders kill rats and mice.

Question 20 of 20

With all the dangers they face, are rodents in danger of becoming extinct?

most are

not really

Considering how rapidly they multiply, the vast majority faces no danger of extinction.